HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 322, 21 December 1910, Page 6

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

— i TO REMOVE LETTERING FROM A ! LEATHER BAG. ; Presuming the letters are painted upon the bag, the best plan w ''l be ' to remove the paint with a solvent, i such as turps or benzine; or chioro- ; form will soften still quicker, and the paint may then be scraped off rvith a penknife or wiped off with a sponge. If these fluids are objected to, a strong ; solution of soda water will also remove j the letters, but not quite so quickly. : The leather will not be the least affected, but if the bag is black or brown, a coating of leather varnish of : cither of these colours must be after- ! wards applied to hide the place where the letters were. CLEANING THE SINK. When the sink becomes greasy, i especially one of those made of glazed') ware, instead of spending hours of j labour in endeavouring to clean it, put j a little paraffin oil on a piece of flan- : nel and rub the sink with it. It will ; remove all.grease, thus saving much : time and labour. The of paraffin can easily be removed by washing j wth hot water and soap and then Mushing with cold water. At the same time this will also clean the pipes. j CURRANT HINT. | The currants that are bought now are generally more or less clean, and requre merely glancing at in case of a ; stray stone among them. When they | are really dirty rub them in a little '. flour, place them in a colander, and j then pour a little water over them. Examine them well to see that there are no stones, press them in a cloth, and then put them in a warm place in order that they may dry slowly. This operation should always be proceeded with the day before the currants are needed, if possible, as if they are at all damp the cake or pudding in which they are used will be spoiled.

CERTAIN CURE FOR CORNS. Buy from a chemist some gutta percha tissue, cut it into strips, and then wind a piece round the corn, first moistening the corn with oil. See that the edges of the tissue are as even as possible, and when you come to the end, wet the inside with spirits of turpentine, press down, and it will stick. Dip a feather in turpentine, and touch all the edges of the tissue, and they will unite. Do not disturb the dressing for four days. When removed, the callosity should be removable with the back of a pocketknife. If you do it properly the operation need not be rep2ated. The exclusion of air is the main point. It is better to wipe over metal with a wet cloth than to immerse it in water or let water run over it. If one has forgotten to add flavouring to cake batter, try sprinkling the required amount over the cake as it stands in the pan before baking. If you are troubled with ants indoors lay fresh mint about the places thej haunt and they will soon disappear. For children with weak chests take half a gill of cod liver oil, two pennyworth of honey, two new-laid eggs, and mix well together. A teaspoonful morning and night keeps the cold out, and saves children many illnesses. See that all overcoats, cloaks, and such like cuter garments are put to the fire if they have been through the rain. Some people seem to think that an overcoat does not matter; but many colds have been caught through a damp overcoat. Little cedar powder sprinkled on the top of the kitchen stove where cooking is going on will prevent the smell of food spreading to other part 3 of the house.

Lettuce is well known as a sleep inducer, arcl has a soothing effect on the nerves. Beetroot and potatoes are fattening, and should be frequently taken by thin people. Spinach is a good aperient, and is better than drugs for those who suffer from constipation. The tons of young nettles when used as a spinach, are also excellent as a blood purifier. Omelets should be quickly cooked; therefore have the frying pan hot all over before pouring in the batter. To mend fragile glass, dissolve a small quantity of gum arabic in clear wine and use a3 a mucilage. It makes an invisible glue, very satisafctory, and will not dissolve in water. Steel pens are destroyed by corrosion from acid in ink. Put in the ink some liUle .nails, or old steel pens, and j the acid will exhaust itself on them, ! and the pens in use will not corrode. ; If _ baking soda is used to wash lamp I glasses, they wiil shine like crystal. • Tinware washed in soda water wili be brightened. Carafes and vinegar cruets can be cleaned with a gill of vinegar, to which one-fourth of a cupful of salt is added. Shake well.

When lining a basin with paate for a beef-steak pudding, cut a piece of paste away from the bottom about the size of a two-shilling piece. Then put in the meat as usual, and it will be found that the. pudding will take an hour less to cook than if lined in the ordinary way. If ink is spilled on a carpet, pour milk over it immediately without stopping to wipe up the ink. Then wipe up the whole thing, and the stain will almost disappear; the grease left by the milk may be removed by rubbing with soap and water. Paraffin may bs f removed in an equally easy way, by scattering oatmeal thickly over the spot and letting it remain over night; it will entirely absorb the oil and make the .carpet even fresher and brighter. Carafes of cut glass look best when cleaned with egg shells. Break up the shells, put a handful into hot soapsuds, and pour them into the carafe, shaking thoroughly. Use a second suds for rinsing. Give them a final rinsing in clear water, and they will look very bright and clean.